How to Have a Sustainable Period at University
Leaving home for the first time its a huge step to take, but it’s an exciting time too. And as students across the UK prepare for the start of a new university term, there’s a lot for young people to juggle. Because alongside the fun and frolics of freshers week, comes a host of new responsibilities too. Juggling social engagements with study time, whilst also suddenly being in charge of grocery shopping and laundry is a lot to take in - especially when you factor in your period too.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a guide on how to have a sustainable period at university, with tips on washing and caring for period pants whilst living away from home.
What are sustainable period products?
In the UK we use and dispose of a staggering 3 million single-use period products every single year. And considering the fact that most disposable pads are made up of 90% plastic, its little wonder that menstrual waste is a real concern for our planet.
Two billion pads and tampons are flushed down the loo each year too, making period products the 5th most common item to be found washed up on European beaches - more than plastic straws or take-away coffee cups. And then there’s the mountains ( 200,000 tonnes, to be exact) of disposables that we send to landfill too. All in all, our periods are costing the earth.
So what options do we have, and is it possible to have a sustainable period?
Period pants
Reusable period pants are obviously top our list of sustainable period options - and for very good reasons! Period pants are a complete replacement for disposable pads and tampons, and can be worn by anyone. Wear like normal underwear, bleed, wash, repeat.
They’re made with a highly absorbent gusset made of many layers. The middle layers are designed to absorb and lock in fluid, keeping it away from your body so you stay dry and fresh. We use CoolMax™ technology to keep odours at bay too.
And the good news is that just one pair of WUKA period pants will save 200 disposables from entering landfill or ocean, and will last for up to two years too. It’s a no brainer for us!
Menstrual cup
Menstrual cups are another reusable option, widely accessible to most people with a period. They’re worn inside the body to collect your period blood. They’re discreet and fairly easy to use, but they might take some getting used to at first.
Reusable pads
Like reusable period pants, reusable pads are designed to be washed and re-used. Most reusable pads are secured inside your normal underwear with poppers and can be placed in the washing machine with your normal laundry load.
Benefits of using period pants at university
While we appreciate the benefits of using a menstrual cup or reusable pads, we’re passionate about helping more people to use period pants. And here are just a few reasons why they make sense for university students:
Cost effective
Period pants are a cost effective option for anyone living on a budget - and we all know that a student’s income can be limited.
Let’s do the maths. The average period costs around £10 per cycle, for a person who uses disposable period products. Over the course of a year, that adds up to £120, and over the average lifetime it’s around £4,800. In contrast, while the initial spend on period pants is higher, the total cost over time is way lower.
One pair of WUKA Basics costs £11.99, and will last for two years on average. If you use five pairs of pants per cycle, the cost of one period is £59.95 - but remember that this is a one-off payment every two years (or more). So over a lifetime, the total cost of your period with WUKA is just £1,199 - £3,601 cheaper!
Now, show us a student that doesn’t want to make financial savings like that?!
Eco-friendly
According to this report, Gen Z are an eco-conscious bunch. 82% say that they are concerned about our planet, and 73% are willing to invest in eco-friendly products.
Luckily we’ve already highlighted just how eco-friendly period pants are - they eliminate the need for plastic-riddled disposables altogether, helping to reduce the volume of menstrual waste and plastic pollution overall. What else do we need to say?
Convenient
The days of scrabbling around in the back of a drawer for one lone tampon are over. No more having to borrow a pad from a friend, and no need to spend your last fiver at the corner shop either. Instead, just pop a pair of period pants on, and off you go.
Period pants are just so much easier! They’re always there, in your drawer, ready to be worn. They won’t move around when you walk, or run or dance. They won’t leak in your sleep. You won’t even know you’re wearing them.
Discreet
Have you ever stuffed a tampon up your sleeve on the way to the loo? Or found yourself coughing to disguise the sound of the crinkly wrappers in a public bathroom? And what about when those public bathrooms don’t have a bin, and you’re forced to carry out a stealth mission to find a safe way to dispose of your pad…
Period pants put all of that behind you. Wear them like normal pants - so if you’d rather nobody knew you were on their period, job done! Our Stretch™ collection are seamless too, so if your worried about VPL we've got that covered too.
How to wash period pants
We get it. Managing laundry for the first time can seem really daunting. But honestly, washing period pants is really easy. They can go in with your normal load without stress. Here’s what to do:
- Rinse your period pants as soon as possible after wearing. Only use cold water as this will help to remove the blood efficiently. If you can’t rinse straight away, store them in a wash bag until you’re able to rinse them out.
- Wash your pants on a normal load, no hotter than 40 degrees. No fabric conditioner.
- Dry your pants on a non-heated airer and avoid tumbledrying.
That’s it!
Tips for using period pants at university
We get lots of questions about using period pants, but we also receive a lot of really clever tips from our community too. Here are a few that might help you out at university:
1.Rinse your period pants in the shower. Give them a swish and a stomp right there in the shower until the water runs clear, then add to your laundry load as normal.
2. Use a mesh laundry bag to protect your period pants in the wash. This is especially important if you’re using machines at the laundrette and will help to keep your pants protected, extending their lifespan too.
3. Make sure you have enough pairs for your cycle and laundry routine. You know your flow, and your routine, best - but as a general guide, most people need around 5-7 pairs of period pants. Five pairs means you have a pair to wear, a pair for spare and three more to allow for washing and drying time. Seven pairs mean you can leave more time between laundry days, so taking even more with you will mean you can stretch laundry days even further.
4. Use a two pocket change bag to store pants when your period is due. That way you’ll never be caught short, and you can keep a spare pair in one pocket, and use the other pocket to store used pants until you get home to rinse.
5. Turn your pants inside out to make the best use of drying time. You can also press them between two towels to speed up the process too.
Best period pants for university students
WUKA recommends:
Flex detachable: for anyone needing to change in smaller bathrooms, these pants are also multi-size, but they come with a detachable strap which means you can remove them completely without undressing. These are also great for people with limited mobility.
WUKA Basics: our best value period pants, available in Hipster or Thong style, plus you can save even more when you buy in a pack of 7. Perfect for anyone on a tight budget.
Super Heavy Flow: available in both Stretch™ midi brief and high waist, and Ultimate Midi Brief - holding up to 12 tampon or 8 pads, these are perfect for anyone not able to get to the loo as frequently.
Cycle Sets: available in packs of 3 or 5 on all styles, and packs of 7 on the Ultimate Bikini, Ultimate Mesh Lace, Flex Logo Bikini, and Basics Hipster. The more you buy, the more you save so it’s a really good idea to grab a cycle set before you go!
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